Casting the Sacred Circle and Calling the Four Directions

Native American culture honors and respects ancestors as guiding spirits. This ritual uses Native American-inspired invocations of your ancestors as your guides.

Before calling the sacred circle, prepare yourself and your space as previously described. You may choose to cast the circle using a drum or rattle as you speak, saying:

Grandmothers and Grandfathers, please come and create the sacred circle of light. Surround me in a circle of light. Thank you.

Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the north, I thank you for coming and I welcome the energy of the north, Great Spirit, the sacred Mountains, connection to our ancestors and the elders, and connection to our knowing, remembering, and our wisdom. I welcome White Buffalo here. Aho!

Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the east, thank you for coming, and I welcome the energy of the east, the golden doorway that leads to all levels of awareness and understanding. I connect to the rising sun, to the warmth of the sun, to new beginnings, to illumination, and to the light, for mental clarity. I welcome the spirit seeds of new ideas and the male energy to move forward. I welcome the energy of Eagle here. Aho!

Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the south, I welcome you and thank you for coming. I welcome the energies of the south, innocence and play and coming into the world from our child’s wonder, our authentic self. I welcome the balance of lightheartedness. I welcome the energy of Coyote here. Aho!

Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the west, welcome. I give thanks to the energies of the west, the place of letting go of what no longer serves us, the place of diving deepinto the void, the darkness, Great Mystery, the place of the creative feminine and looking within. I welcome Bear here. Aho!

Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the Above World, I welcome you and the energies of Father Sky, the Cosmos, Star Beings, Light Beings, Ascended Masters, Angels, Archangels, and all who work with us from the light. Welcome. Aho!

Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the Below World, Great and Mother Earth, we welcome your mud, your beauty, and all our ancestors of the earth, the mineral kingdom, plant kingdom, animal kingdom, all creatures, and our relatives. We give thanks to you and all your vibrations and your wisdom. I welcome the nature spirits and align with the elements. Aho!

Grandmothers and Grandfathers at the Center of all being, we welcome you. I welcome the energy of love and well- being, the place that connects us all at heart. May we know our oneness and our unique gifts. Aho!

Once you have opened your chakras and created the sacred circle, you may call for a vision, pray for guidance, pray for healing, or choose to give thanks. This is a circle of light where you are connected to the divine source of love and light. Enjoy your journey. When you have completed your mission within the circle, open the circle by giving thanks to all who came to guide you, guides and totems, and all the energies of the directions. 

Autumn Equinox

Here is a wonderfully creative variation on this seasonal rite designed by Robin Heerens Lysne, the author of Living a Sacred Life. It is based on the Native American Muskogee Creek tribal story about the spider who weaves her web sack to catch the sun and bring it back to earth. Lysne suggests holding a potluck dinner followed by a story-telling session as the light begins to wane. While people tell their equinox or fall season stories and feelings, they should hold the end of a ball of yarn or string and toss the ball to the next person to signal that it is their turn. As people hold the yarn, they should wrap it once around their wrists. When the talking is done, you will have a web of people woven together. Make the web of life with the yarn, symbolizing the weaving of night, day, relationships, and the time of autumn. When you are finished, let yourselves be in the web and contemplate the meaning of your connections.

Animal Spirits

Oftentimes, messages come with animals, either live or in spirit vision. If this happens to you, you should study the meaning of this animal, as it may well become your personal totem or power animal. Bear in mind, too, that your animal totem might be a real surprise. You may be a 300-pound linebacker, and your totem might be a mouse. Remember, the totem picks you; you don’t pick the totem.

I was surprised when my spirit animal totem first came to me. For whatever reason, I thought I was not a nature girl. I did a personal vision quest, and while a trip to an exotic place such as the Amazon jungle was not in my immediate plans, I felt I could definitely journey to the shore and make it a spiritual trek. Between Santa Cruz and San Francisco, there is a wonderful national park by the Pacific Ocean called Big Basin. Big Basin features a waterfall with a very large creek that flows down a mountain directly into the ocean. For sheer physical beauty and drama, Big Basin is nearly unmatched. The waterfall is a “word of mouth” phenomenon that only occurs after the rainy season. If you go at any other time, the waterfall is dry and, for all intents and purposes, simply does not exist. I decided that, for my purposes, I could experience a little magic.

So I set off on the seven-mile journey up the mountain to find Berry Creek Falls. Because I was hit by a drunk driver some years back and suffered physical trauma, I am not a hiker. But I was extremely motivated to try, and the beauty of the spring day I had selected for my vision quest was sheer joy to behold. Through flowering spring trees, the singing brook, and a lush green landscape, I felt like I had rediscovered Eden all by myself. After about five miles, my ankle, which had been smashed in the accident, was begging me for a respite. I moved down the bank of the big creek and dipped my throbbing leg into the cool water. It felt so good, and I was so hot and hungry, that it seemed absolutely essential that I plunge into the creek. I think I lay in the water for at least two hours, and I felt an enormous sense of release there. I wept, letting go of deep emotions as the water flowed around me. Lichen, moss, leaves, and some small sticks caught in my hair, but these only added to my sense that I was getting closer to nature. I was in my element and very glad of it.

Eventually, I became aware of the world outside my mossy mermaid creek bed. It was getting late and, lacking flashlight or fire, I could either wash out to sea or return to the world and my life. Refreshed, a little more lucid, and a lot hungrier, but with no distinct vision, it seemed that it was going to take another trip for me to get any real enlightenment.

I started the journey of several miles down the incline, deep in thought. After a few minutes I noticed that I was not the only one walking in the woods. I stopped, and the other footsteps stopped, too. I started and the other footsteps started again. The steps were very close. It seemed that someone or something was walking just off to my left, practically beside me. I started to get frightened; being followed was not in my vision quest plans!

Carefully and quietly, I turned to look in the dimming light. To my utter amazement, there was a young female deer walking beside me. We looked at each other, and I am not sure who was more frightened. We walked together and soon grew fairly comfortable with each other’s presence. I touched her and she didn’t flinch or run away. This was miraculous.

I marveled that she remained at my side. I grew up in West Virginia, where deer simply don’t “hang out” with humans. I came to realize that this doe was my animal totem. She picked me, and definitely let me know that she was there for me, escorting me down the mountain from my vision quest. At the end of the grassy hill, before it became sand and beach, she turned, and with a long gaze gave me her goodbye. I was practically shaking with excitement and an indescribable bursting feeling inside.

All those Native American teachings I had heard were completely real and true. Never again did I doubt the veracity of vision and spirit from the elders.

The realm of the spirit is there. It’s just waiting for you to walk in.

Animal Totem Symbology

Native American tribes have given us the great gift of animal wisdom. This wonderful lore and legacy handed down to us can act as a daily oracle. When you see an animal or a representation of one, consider these meanings.

• Bear—emerging consciousness
  
• Beaver—building, manifesting hopes and dreams
  
• Bobcat—mystery and secrets, stealth and silence
  
• Buffalo—abundance and right livelihood
  
• Bull—fertility
  
• Cat—magic, the unknowable, autonomy
  
• Coyote—wisdom, recklessness
  
• Deer—kindness and tenderness, adventure and incorruptibility
  
• Dog—faithful guardianship
  
• Whale—song and music, inner intensity, creation
  
• Wolf—ritual and spirit, allegiance and custodianship 

Personal Vision Quest

Carve out at least twelve hours for this day-long journey to your inner self. Ideally, it should begin at first light of dawn and end past twilight. Traditional Native American vision quests lasted up to four days, but this one-day version is still an effective path to self-discovery. Another aspect of this vision quest is that it is safe and easily practiced by urban spiritual seekers who only have the weekends for mystical pursuits and who lack access to mountainous regions.

To ready yourself for your inner work, you should fast with juice, weak tea, and plenty of water. If you have access to a sauna, you can perform a purification to ready your spirit. Pack a bag with a sage smudge stick, matches, water, juice, a blanket, a cell phone, and anything you feel you need for safety of in case of an emergency, such as an energy or granola bar, apples, energy drinks, and so forth. Let someone know what you plan to do, and where you plan to do it, and ask them to meet you at a specified time to bring you home; the last thing you’ll want to do is trek to the bus or drive a car. While Native shamans traditionally sent people out into the wild, it is better to be safe. Select a garden or nearby park. Ideally, your place will be outdoors but if that is not possible, you can choose someplace different to contemplate. Do some research on the place you have selected so there are no surprises that can interfere with your plans.

Draw a circle in the dirt, sand, or grass with a fallen branch or with your feet. Bless the circle with sage smoke and choose rocks to mark the four directions. Now settle into being alone, utterly alone. Pray, meditate, and contemplate for as long as you can without interruption: no food, no books, no cell phone, and no distractions. Pay attention to nature around you and be prepared to receive a visit from your totem animal in the form of a vision. Think about who you are and where you are going, your origins, and your spirit. I recommend taking a journal and making notes, as you feel inspired. Chanting and singing is a good way to open your spirit. No two vision quests will be alike. I cannot predict what will happen to you, whether you will have epiphanies, breakthroughs, visions, or how insight will come to you. What I do know, however, is that you will undoubtedly know yourself better at the end of your vision quest.

If at any time you feel endangered or unwell, end your vision quest. The pursuit of spiritual enlightenment should not come at the cost of your safety. 

The Vision Quest

While the term “vision quest” comes from Native American teachings, it is really the passage of the personal journey. No matter what your spiritual orientation is, for true personal development, it is essential to do the inner work. You must explore yourself deeply and discover what is important to you, sense where you need to go, and set your spiritual goals. At the end of the day and at the end of your life, it will not matter how many houses or cars you have; what really matters is what kind of person you were and how you treated others. Was the work of your life soul work? Did you express yourself creatively? Did you take care of your family? Did you help others?

Look inside; face these questions. Can you answer them satisfactorily? By doing so you will be able to determine and change the future course of events. A vision quest is an essential step in a life well lived, a life full of soul work, a life hard but ultimately joyful.

This ritual, performed in keeping with the Native American tradition, is a rite of passage requiring courage and fortitude. At the end, you will most certainly know who you are! Going into the wilderness by yourself with no food, water, or other creature comforts to do nothing but pray certainly forces you to face your inner self. The purpose of the vision quest is to receive a vision. Not everyone succeeds. Some people are too frightened, hungry, and cold to continue. Others experience an altered reality or deep visions due to sensory deprivation and the extreme physicality of the vision quest. 

The Gift of the Full Moon: A Native American Ritual

Many Native American tribes saw the moon as a teacher, for the bright light of the full moon was truly illuminating. While I advise caution with using aspects of indigenous culture, I think that learning the lessons offered while always honoring the source and ascribing references can be life-enriching. My motto is “appreciation without appropriation."

Accept the wisdom that is offered and respect the resource. Here is a full moon teaching from my friend Liz, who is of Native American descent and whose many happy clients attest that she is a very wise woman. The full moon ceremony should be led by a woman, an elder, who chooses a young man to be the warrior. His job is to serve the circle and serve the community by tending the fire as the Keeper of the Flame. The warrior is to be pure of heart. Selection by the elder is

the greatest honor because she sees into the pure heart and perceives the good this man brings to the community. Once the fire is built, other women can approach the fire circle crying out, “Ho! Ho! Ho!” When everyone else has arrived, the young man leaves and returns only when the fire is dying down to rekindle the flames. Whenever he approaches, he should announce, “I am the Keeper of the Flame."

The elder leads the women in discussion of whatever she feel is important, such as the welfare of an individual or the village, or she tells a story. Ultimately, this is a woman’s council fire and the well-being of the community is served in this monthly ceremony.

The elder is the leader of the full moon teaching and it lasts as long as she sees fit; only the elder can excuse women from the circle. Many full moon teachings, the council fires have grown shorter, the elder must know things are going well for the community! 

Lunar Almanac: Twelve Months of Full Moons

Many of our full moon names come from medieval books of hours and from Native American tribal traditions. Here is a list of rare names from these two branches of tradition that you may want to use in your lunar rituals.

January: Old Moon, Chaste Moon; this fierce Wolf Moon is the time to recognize your strength of spirit.

February: Hunger Moon; the cool Snow Moon is for personal vision and intention-setting.

March: Crust Moon, Sugar Moon; the gentle Sap Moon heralds the end of winter and nature’s rebirth.

April: Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon; spring’s sweet Pink Moon celebrates health and full life force.

May: Milk Moon, Corn Planting Moon, Dyad Moon; the Flower Moon provides inspiration with the bloom of beauty.

June: Horn Moon, Rose Moon; the Strawberry Moon heralds the Summer Solstice and the sustaining power of the sun.

July: Buck Moon, Hay Moon; this Thunder Moon showers us with rain and cleansing storms.

August: Barley Moon, Wort Moon, Sturgeon Moon; summer gifts us with the Red Moon, the time for passion and lust for life.

September: Green Corn Moon, Wine Moon; fall’s Harvest Moon is the time to be grateful and reap what we have sown.

October: Dying Grass Moon, Travel Moon, Blood Moon, Moon of Changing Seasons; the Hunter’s moon is when we plan and store for winter ahead.

November: Frost Moon, Snow Moon; this Beaver Moon is the time to call upon our true wild nature.

December: Cold Moon, Oak Moon; this is the longest night of the shortest day and is the time to gather the tribe around the fire and share stories of the good life together.

Lunar Lore - 12 Months of Full Moons

Many of our full moon names come from medieval books of hours and also from the Native American tradition. Here is a list of rare names from the two traditions you may want to use in your lunar rituals.

January: Old Moon, Chaste Moon; this fierce Wolf Moon is the time to recognize your strength of spirit

February: Hunger Moon; the cool Snow Moon is for personal vision and intention setting

March: Crust Moon, Sugar Moon; the gentle Sap Moon heralds the end of winter and nature's rebirth

April: Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon; spring's sweet pink moon celebrates health and full life force

May: Milk Moon, Corn Planting Moon, Dyad Moon; the Flower Moon provides inspiration with the bloom of beauty

June: Hor Moon, Rose Moon; the Strawberry Moon heralds the summer solstice and sustaining power of the sun

July: Buck Moon, Hay Moon; this Thunder Moon shower's with rain and cleansing storms

August: Barley Moon, Wyrt Moon, Sturgeon Moon; summer gifts us with the Red Moon, the time for passion and lust for life

September: Green Corn Moon, Wine Moon; fall's Harvest Moon is the perfect time to be grateful and reap what we have sown

October: Dying Grass Moon, Travel Moon, Blood Moon, Moon of Changing Seasons, the Hunter's Moon is when we plan and store for winter ahead

November: Frost Moon, Snow Moon; Beaver Moon is the time to call upon our true wild nature

December: Cold Moon, Oak Moon; this is the lightest night of the shortest day and is the time to gather the tribe around the fire and share stories of the good life together